Fannie Mae Nixes Extra 5% Down in Declining Markets

Fannie Mae nixes extra five percent down in "declining markets." On May 16, the country's largest secondary mortgage market company, Fannie Mae, announced that it will no longer require borrowers to put up an extra five percent down payment when purchasing homes in areas deemed "declining markets." According to an NAR: "Fannie Mae had been hearing concerns from REALTORS and others for months that its declining-markets policy was bad for the housing market because it discouraged consumers from buying homes in markets hardest-hit by foreclosures."